Photos By K.D. Myers Photography
Name: Anna Elkin
School: Hebron High School
1. What was your most memorable race/moment?
It's kind of hard to pick one but I think the most memorable moment would be the moment we found out we won state my junior year. It really is an indescribable feeling to know you're on the best team in the state & standing on the medal stand with the 7 best girls and the best coach was a moment I will never forget. November 8th will always be my favorite day!!
2. Who would you consider your biggest competition over your four years?
Looking back over the past four years I've had so many "rivals". I think the most obvious answer would be Maddy Reed. I've raced her more times than I can count & I look forward to racing her again as SEC rivals!
3. What was your greatest accomplishment?
My greatest accomplishments were state my senior year & making it to nationals. During the summer I told my coach I wanted to be top 10 in the state & go to nationals so accomplishing that meant everything to me. That whole season every single day I wrote in my log book the countdown to the state meet so to be on the medal stand and finally accomplish that goal was such an incredible feeling. Also, making it to nationals individually was so special. It's an experience I will never forget and making it was a dream come true.
4. If you could do it all over again what would you change about your running career in high school?
It is so hard for me to think of something that I would change. Every part of the last four years made me the runner I am today & I wouldn't trade it for the world.
5. What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome?
In my four years there were been lots of obstacles I've had to come. Our team has been faced with lots of adversity whether it be people leaving our team, injuries, or mental roadblocks. My coach always said that it's not the adversity that defines you, but rather how you deal with the adversity you are forced to overcome.
6. What will you miss the most?
I'm seriously going to miss everything so much. But, one thing I am really going to miss is log book. Every single morning before practice we meet in our conference room and have what we call "log book" where we talk about our run for the day and then occasionally coach gives us a little motivational speech. It's a little part of my high school experience but I love it so much. Also, I'm just really going to miss my teammates. They are the best girls in the world and make training so much more fun.
7. What advice would you give to younger athletes?
My biggest piece of advice would be to only worry about things that you can control. I used to get so wrapped up in times, what the course was like, and how my competition would run that I would lose sight of what I was working on. There are only certain things that you can control so why worry about anything else. Also I would say to enjoy every second of your four years because one moment you're standing on the line for the very first time your freshman year and the next moment you're running your very last state meet. It goes by way too quick.
8. What influence has your coach had with respect to your performance and overall life goals?
My coach has most definitely been the most influential person in the past four years of my life. Four years ago I joined cross country because it was a no cut sport and he made me the runner that I am today & helped make my wildest dreams come true. Coach Grennier, thank you for teaching me the Paavo philosophy, that the color red is bad, that hard work will always beat talent when talent doesn't work hard, and for always believing in me even when I didn't believe in myself. Thanks for putting up with me every morning for the past four years. I'm really going to miss going to log book in the morning arguing about who is most tired & all the travel trips we've survived together. Your dedication to the sport and our team inspires me. You're the best coach in the whole world and I am so incredibly lucky to have been coached by you!
9. What are your college plans?
In the fall I will be going to Ole Miss to run cross country and track. Hotty Toddy!!
10. Who would you like to say 'thank you' to?
First, thank you to Papa Grennier (Coach Grennier's Dad) who is always at that spot in the race where there are no other fans and you're really needing some motivation. Thank you for always making sure I know when I ran good & also when I ran really bad. You played a huge part in my high school career and I can't think you enough for everything you've done!
Next, thank you to my parents! My parents didn't miss a single race of my high school career!!! I am so lucky to have such supportive parents and I've enjoyed having you guys with me every step of the way! Thank you for all the shoes you've bought me, always buying me beans & rice, and for putting up for me after races whether I'm in a really good mood or a bad one.
Also, thank you to Texas MileSplit for making me & my team a big deal. I can't thank you enough for what you've done for high school track & field. You guys are the absolute best!!
Lastly, to my teammates who encourage me to be a better runner every single day. I have never met a group of girls more willing to give up good for great. I'm so lucky to have them as my very best friends! (special shoutout to my very best friend Alex Kuykendall who adopted me as her little sis my freshman year and has believed in me ever since. you're the best, I love you!!!)
11. Is there anything else you'd like to add?
Shout out to all the other Paavo kids :-) I love you all & I'm super lucky that I have a group of kids who are goal oriented just like me. I'm going to miss spending part of my summer at camp with y'all!!!
12. What was the funniest thing that happened during your running career?
Thinking back I could literally tell stories for hours about all of the funny moments that have happened but one story is from Paavo Run Across Texas Camp my senior year. It's this week long camp where we just basically run and camp out all week. On the last day we wake up really really early so the night before we put up our tent and just planned to sleep outside on our cots with our sleeping bags. It was late at night and we were all about to fall asleep when we heard this noise that sounded like a sneeze. Madi, a girl on our team, said "bless you" and then there was this long pause waiting for someone to say thank you but no one said it. Right after that we felt something moving under our cots and we realized that there was a skunk under us!! We were laughing so hard but at the same time, I was so scared we were going to get sprayed. This is probably one of those stories that was funnier if you were there but I still laugh every time I think about it.
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